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U.S. Air Force News

  • Air logistics center prepares for new engine workload

    Officials with the 76th Propulsion Maintenance Group here are clearing shop space for a new workload. Tinker AFB will introduce the F117 workload in March 2010. The F117 engine, manufactured by Pratt & Whitney, powers the C-17 Globemaster III, a strategic and tactical airlifter. Though still two

  • Wright-Patterson prepares for aircraft threatened by Hanna

    Officials from the 88th Air Base Wing here are preparing to receive aircraft and their associated aircrews, maintenance and security personnel from several East Coast military installations threatened by approaching Tropical Storm Hanna. The first aircraft are slated to arrive Sept. 3 from

  • Tinker unit earns Shingo Prize

    The B-1B Programmed Depot Maintenance team here is the recipient of the Shingo Bronze Medallion in the public sector category. The Shingo Prize is often referred to as the "Nobel Prize of manufacturing."It was established in 1988, and promotes Lean manufacturing concept awareness and recognizes

  • AMC poised to support post-hurricane operations

    Air Mobility Command planners and operators held a collective breath as Hurricane Gustav made landfall Sept. 1. Although most AMC aircraft and personnel were pulled back from the U.S. Gulf Coast area Aug. 31 -- hours before the hurricane's projected landfall -- the command was still fully engage in

  • Canadian forces assist in hurricane evacuation

    Canadian Forces officials deployed three aircraft in support of Air Forces Northern humanitarian efforts during Hurricane Gustav.A CC-177 Globemaster from Trenton, Ontario, deployed to New Orleans to assist in the evacuation of people from hospitals and rest homes in the path of the major storm.Two

  • Intelligence wing supports Gustav efforts

    Even though Hurricane Gustav made landfall hundreds of miles away, Airmen from the 480th Intelligence Wing here are playing a critical support role. The same intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets that are used to support contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, also play a

  • Hurricane Hunters track Gustav

    While Hurricane Gustav buffets their home, the Hurricane Hunters of the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., continue to fly missions from their forward operating location at Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. As Gustav moves inland, Citizen Airmen of the 53rd Weather

  • Reserve teams answer calls for help

    More than 300 Gulf Coast patients were able to breathe a sigh of relief Sep. 1 thanks to Air Force Reserve aeromedical crews as Hurricane Gustav slammed into Terrebonne Bay, La., just west of New Orleans, at about 10:30 EST. Because more than 50 air evacuation flights had carried them to safety, the

  • AFNORTH Airmen assisting with Gustav medevac

    Air Forces Northern Airmen here coordinated with numerous civilian and government agencies in Texas and Louisiana to assist with the evacuation of critical-care patients prior to Hurricane Gustav's landfall. AFNORTH Airmen provide U.S. Northern Command with visibility on all Air Force assets

  • AFNORTH activates recovery center for Gustav

    Officials with the 601st Air and Space Operations Center have activated the Joint Personnel Recovery Center in preparation for landfall of Hurricane Gustav. Located here, JPRC personnel focus specifically on large-scale search and rescue, or SAR, operations in the event of a hurricane or natural

  • Military ready to support Hurricane Gustav relief effort

    American military forces are prepositioned and ready to provide any relief necessary if called upon Sept. 1 at England Air Park in Alexandria as Hurricane Gustav batters the Gulf Coast. A joint force team of approximately 100 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Defense Department civilians has set up camp

  • Hurricane Hunters support weather study from Guam

    Two Air Force Reserve WC-130J Hercules and a Naval Research Lab P-3 Orion deployed here recently to conduct meteorological research on tropical cyclones in the Western Pacific from August through September. During the project, labeled Tropical Cyclone Structure-2008, aircrews from the 53rd Weather

  • Hurricane Hunters tracking Gustav on Katrina anniversary

    Hurricane Hunters from the Air Force Reserve's 403rd Wing here spent the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina flying into yet another tempest, Hurricane Gustav, which made landfall just west of Grand island, La., Sept 1. Three years ago, the Hurricane Hunters evacuated aircraft and personnel from

  • McChord aircrew delivers response team, supplies to New Orleans

    A C-17 Globemaster III from the 62nd Airlift Wing, McChord Air Force Base, Wash., provided rapid deployment of a four-man contingency response team and 15,500 pounds of cargo from the 615th Contingency Response Wing at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., to the Louis Armstrong International Airport in

  • McChord aircrew deploys for hurricane response efforts

    Airmen here put the words "Any time, any place" into action in the early hours Aug. 30 as a C-17 Globemaster III headed to Travis Air Force Base, Calif., for Hurricane Gustav preparation efforts. Without knowing what or who they were picking up, Airmen from the 10th Airlift Squadron headed to

  • Hurricane relief efforts underway

    An Air National Guard C-130 Hercules flew in to San Antonio Aug. 30 carrying 23 evacuees from Beaumont, Texas. The aircrew was from the 181st Airlift Squadron at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas. The members on the aircraft were activated for evacuation relief efforts due

  • AMC supporting Hurricane Gustav evacuation efforts in Louisiana, Texas

    In support of Hurricane Gustav humanitarian relief efforts, Air Mobility Command officials began positioning emergency personnel, equipment and aircraft Aug. 29 at various locations along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Command and control and coordination of the humanitarian airlift effort is provided by the

  • Aircrews take wounded warriors home

    Almost three years have passed since aircrews in the 440th Airlift Wing here started flying special missions known as Integrated CONUS Medical Operations Plan missions. These ICMOP missions are designed to get injured servicemembers home as quickly as possible after arriving in the United States

  • Advanced engine, hearing protection on display at museum

    The first aircraft to fly by pulsed-detonation engine power, along with associated hearing protection technology -- both developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory here -- became additions to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force during an Aug. 25 ceremony at the museum annex here. Members

  • CSAF defers heritage coat decision, focuses on current uniform issues

    Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton A. Schwartz decided on Aug. 28 to defer a decision on the Air Force heritage coat until the summer of 2009 to address current uniform issues, according to a senior Air Force official. "We are going to fix, improve and upgrade uniforms in our current inventory,"

  • Airmen continue to bring relief supplies to Georgia

    Airmen from bases throughout Air Mobility Command and the Air Force have been delivering needed supplies since Aug. 13 to individuals displaced by recent fighting in the Republic of Georgia. Since the start of the Russia-Republic of Georgia conflict Aug. 8, Airmen have delivered more than 428 tons

  • Eielson Airmen turn child into pilot for a day

    Eielson Air Force Base Airmen made a 15-year-old's dream come true as base members turned the boy into a pilot for a day Aug. 22 here. Alex Lee was born with congenital heart defects and Down syndrome and wasn't expected to live as long as he has, but Alex was full of life and excitement as he

  • Air Force, AMC officials poised for Hurricane Gustav support

    In response to preliminary reports that possibly point Hurricane Gustav toward the Gulf Coast of the United States, Air Force officials are postured to support relief efforts, if needed. Hurricane Gustav, which formed Aug. 25 about 260 miles southeast of Haiti, is the third hurricane of the 2008

  • F-15 accident report released

    Pilot error caused the Feb. 20 crash of two Eglin-based F-15C Eagles off the coast of Florida, according to an Air Combat Command accident investigation board report released Aug. 28. One pilot , 1st Lt. Ali Jivanjee, was killed in the mishap. The other pilot, Capt. Tucker Hamilton, ejected from his

  • Senior leaders meet to discuss, decide way ahead for force

    Senior Air Force leaders gathered for a strategic summit Aug. 27 at Bolling Air Force Base to discuss the way ahead for the Air Force as a part of the August emphasis on strategic planning. "The summit allows us to identify issues that need senior leader review and decide on matters affecting the

  • Airmen employ laser joint direct attack munition in Iraq

    Airmen employed a guided bomb unit-54 laser joint directed attack munition Aug. 12 against a moving enemy vehicle in the Diyala province to support a combined Iraqi army and U.S. Marine operation. The GBU-54 is the Air Force's newest 500-pound precision weapon, equipped with a special targeting

  • U.S. military delivers 2 million pounds of aid to Georgia

    After two weeks of high-tempo humanitarian relief operations, the U.S. military reached another milestone by delivering more than 2 million pounds of aid to Georgia in the wake of conflicts there earlier this month. The U.S. military's role in the overall humanitarian assistance effort, dubbed

  • Airmen enhance Army medical evacuation mission

    Airmen of the 305th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron here have flown more than 300 medical evacuations for coalition forces and Afghan nationals since March as they carry out their mission of saving lives.Members of the 305th ERQS and their HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters are deployed to Kandahar Air Base

  • Ramstein members deliver aid to Georgia

    Ramstein Air Base C-130 Hercules aircrews continue to fly to Tbilisi International Airport in Georgia to deliver crucial humanitarian supplies Aug. 26. Department of Defense officials were asked to support the mission with a joint U.S. military operation that launched with the delivery of pallets of

  • Reservists oversee Dover C-5 modernization program

    Bought a C-5 lately? Chief Master Sgt. Donald Cunningham has. He technically hasn't purchased anything but "buying" C-5s is part of the 512th Acceptance Check Flight superintendant's job. It's the term the 512th ACF uses for the C-5 Galaxys they've inspected and accepted back into the Air Force

  • Iraq, Afghanistan airdrops reach all-time high

    Resupplying U.S. and coalition forces on the ground is a critical logistical component of combat operations. Seven months into 2008, the Air Force has already supplied forces in Iraq and Afghanistan with more than 8.5 million pounds of goods. This surpasses the 2007 total and reaches an all-time

  • Air Force chief of staff discusses leadership goals

    The Air Force chief of staff shared his vision concerning Air Force leadership and discussed his goals for the direction of the Air Force during the Air Force Sergeants Association's Professional Airmen's Conference Aug. 25 in San Antonio. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz began his speech discussing the

  • Aid to Georgia surpasses million-pound mark

    The U.S. military has delivered more than 1 million pounds of humanitarian relief supplies to Georgia. As of Aug.22, 36 missions had been flown by Air Force C-17 Globemaster III and C-130 Hercules transport aircraft as well as Navy C-9 Skytrain, C-130 and C-40 Clipper aircraft, U.S. European Command

  • Wright-Patterson unit wins Defense secretary logistics award

    Defense Department officials here announced Aug. 6 the 478th Aeronautical Systems Wing was named the winner of the Secretary of Defense System Level Performance-Based Logistics Award. The wing staff directs all acquisition and sustainment activities for the F-22 Raptor and is part of the

  • Memorial designer reflects on work as opening nears

    Being chosen to design the Pentagon Memorial that will be dedicated here Sept. 11 is an achievement that may never be topped in an architect's career, one of the Pentagon Memorial's lead designers said. Keith Kaseman and Julie Beckman, his wife and business partner, were selected in March 2003 out

  • NATO AWACS conducts Strike Eagle dogfights

    A NATO E-3A Sentinel and its crew arrived here Aug. 8 to conduct training missions with 4th Fighter Wing aircrews. The Sentinel, which is an Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft from Geilenkirchen, Germany, will conduct mock dogfights between the wing's fighter aircraft. Using its

  • Maxwell shelters Navy Seahawks from Tropical Storm Fay

    Dozens of Navy helicopters evacuated from the Florida coast to Maxwell Air Force Base Aug. 20 in an effort to avoid the destruction of Tropical Storm Fay. Navy Cmdr. Chris Fallia said the decision to evacuate to Maxwell AFB happened when the tropical storm was projected to veer back inland after

  • F-15 tests alternative jet engine fuel

    An aviation first was accomplished when an F-15E Strike Eagle flew here Aug. 19 using an alternative fuel. Engineers from the 830th Aircraft Sustainment Group, maintainers with the 561st Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and pilots from the 339th Flight Test Squadron joined with the Air Force

  • Reaper drops bomb on anti-Iraqi forces

    An MQ-9 Reaper dropped a 500-pound bomb against an anti-Iraqi target Aug. 16 in one of the first weapons engagements for the unmanned aircraft system.The Reaper began flying combat sorties in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom July 18 and joined the MQ-1 Predator as another UAS patrolling the sky to

  • Academy awarded $285,000 for wave energy research

    The next source of alternative energy could come from ocean waves, and Air Force Academy professors have been granted funding to dive into this research. The National Science Foundation has awarded the Academy's Aeronautics Department $285,619 to support a cyclodial propeller wave energy converter

  • Night-vision initiative sheds light on refueling improvements

    Members of the Air Mobility Battlelab here have helped KC-135 Stratotanker aircrews to see in the dark through the KC-135 Exterior Night Vision Imaging System-compatible Lighting initiative. Teaming with the Air Force Research Laboratory's Night Vision Center of Excellence of Mesa, Ariz., a

  • $2 million humanitarian mission in Georgia to continue

    The U.S. military has delivered $2 million worth of humanitarian aid to Georgia in an ongoing effort to relieve the war-torn former Soviet republic that came under Russian attack 10 days ago. In addition to 130 tons of airlifted cargo, U.S. European Command has granted the Georgian government in

  • Predator passes 400,000 flight hours

    The MQ-1 Predator unmanned aircraft system surpassed 400,000 flight hours during a mission in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility Aug. 18. Members of the 15th Reconnaissance Squadron, part of the 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., flew the milestone mission in

  • Acting secretary addresses VFW

    Acting Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley spoke before an audience of Veterans of Foreign Wars members Aug. 18 at their national convention here. He gave a snapshot of today's Air Force and its contributions to the war on terrorism. "Our veterans have answered their country's call to duty,

  • Chief McKinley talks about Air Force focus areas

    "Hold your heads up high," said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley during his enlisted call in the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Academy high bay here Aug. 13. The chief opened his talk by telling Airmen that despite the bumps and bruises the Air Force has taken

  • Air Guard Predator pilots increase combat air patrols

    Although they are some of the busiest pilots in the U.S. military, Air National Guard pilots who are now flying unmanned aircraft from the ground said they still climb into the cockpit and get some flight time whenever they can. Lt. Col. Rick Gibney, operations group commander and MQ-1 Predator

  • Future Predator/Reaper formal training unit announced

    Gen. John D.W. Corley, Air Combat Command commander, with concurrence from the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, announced today that Holloman AFB, N.M., is the preferred potential location for an additional unmanned aircraft system formal Training unit. This is the first step in a series of actions

  • Officials work to reduce air violations over conventions

    The Continental U.S. NORAD Region is partnering with the U.S. Secret Service and the Federal Aviation Administration to help reduce airspace violations near Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul during the 2008 Democratic and Republican National Conventions. Public and private airports, known as

  • Airmen help Iraqi pilot earn his wings

    Dressed in a tan flight suit adorned with the Iraqi flag, an L.A. Dodgers hat and aviator sunglasses, one pilot is helping his country take a step closer to having an independent air force. With help from U.S. Airmen, Iraqi air force Maj. Thagel took his last training flight prior to being certified

  • Offutt Airmen hold airshow for special needs families

    Airmen here pulled out all the stops to make several hundred people smile a little more during the Aug. 15 Air Force Week in the Heartland Special Needs Airshow. Offutt Air Force Base Airmen brought community members who would have difficulties attending the official airshow schedule because of

  • New Global Hawk exhibit opens at museum

    Officials from industry, the Air Force and the National Museum of the United States Air Force gathered for the opening of the new RQ-4A Global Hawk exhibit Aug. 12 here. The Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system that sends near-real-time reconnaissance imagery to

  • C-130s bring humanitarian assistance to Georgia

    Humanitarian aid to the former Soviet republic of Georgia continued today, as two C-130 Hercules aircraft arrived in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi, carrying pallets of cargo, including emergency shelter items and medical supplies. Military forces throughout U.S. European Command's area of

  • Mobility Airmen deliver aid to Georgia

    Air Force mobility Airmen and aircraft delivered more than 78 tons of humanitarian aid supplies Aug. 13 and 14 to the people of the Republic of Georgia. Two Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs carried relief supplies including medical items, blankets, sheets, cots, air mattresses and sleeping bags from

  • Female leaders from Omaha, Air Force gather at Offutt

    Nebraska female executives met some of the Air Force's leading women during the Ten Dinner Aug. 14 at the Patriot Club on Offutt Air Force Base. The Air Force's top acquisition leader, the Reserve mobilization assistant to the deputy surgeon general of the Air Force, the deputy director for global

  • Building capable allies, strong bonds

    Over European castles, Middle Eastern deserts and Pacific islands, F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots are soaring in ever-increasing numbers. Their landscapes, nationalities and cultures are different, but they share several common bonds. They are allies, they are friends and they learned to fly their

  • AF Marathon offers more than 26.2 mile race

    People can become a part of history by registering for the 12th annual United States Air Force Marathon. The event will take place Sept. 20 at here at Wright-Patterson AFB, near Dayton, Ohio. Races include the full marathon, including wheeled division; a half-marathon; and individual and four-member

  • U.S. humanitarian support to Georgia continues

    United States humanitarian efforts continued as another U.S. military aircraft delivered a second shipment of humanitarian supplies on Aug. 13, for the people of Georgia in response to the crisis situation. A C-17 Globemaster III, from the 305th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, N.J.,

  • NATO forces a step closer to obtaining C-17s

    Three C-17 Globemaster IIIs are only three signatures away from finding a new home at Papa Air Base, Hungary. After years of planning, NATO members and partners are only a few signatures away from gaining access to the C-17s to share for their national requirements, to include NATO missions in

  • Transparent coating repels water, could reduce corrosion

    The development of a transparent coating that causes water to bead up into drops and roll or bounce off a surface will help protect and sustain Air Force systems by preventing corrosion and reducing ice formation on optical elements and aircraft. An Air Force Office of Scientific Research-funded

  • Air Force Week mixes past, present, future at museum

    Airmen brought current and future operations to the historic Strategic Air and Space Museum here Aug. 13 as part of Air Force Week in the Heartland. At a venue famous for Gen. Curtis LeMay exhibits, numerous aircraft and the home base for looking back at the Air Force's former Strategic Air Command,

  • Air mobility supports Georgia humanitarian relief

    Air Force mobility Airmen and aircraft are actively involved in airlift operations to aid the people of Georgia. "We have crews engaged to deliver supplies to those in need, and others on standby, ready to go at a moment's notice if called upon to go in and provide relief," said Gen. Arthur Lichte,

  • SECAF, CSAF stress 'back to basics'

    The acting secretary and new chief of staff of the Air Force emphasized a "back-to-basics" approach to get the Air Force back on track in areas ranging from the nuclear enterprise to acquisition in an Aug. 12 press conference at the Pentagon. Secretary Michael Donley introduced Gen. Norton Schwartz,

  • U.S. military provides humanitarian aid to Georgia

    A C-17 Globemaster III departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, and landed at Tbilisi International Airport today delivering $1 million in humanitarian aid to reduce the suffering of the people of the Republic of Georgia. The joint military effort supported coordination by the U.S. State Department and

  • Air Force delivers humanitarian aid to Georgia

    An Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft will touch down today in Tbilisi, Georgia, delivering the first of what may turn into many planeloads of humanitarian relief to the nation, Defense Department officials said today. The C-17 is from the 305th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force

  • 'Today's Air Force' features airpower in the AOR

    This edition of "Today's Air Force" highlights the impact the Air Force is making from the skies in its role in the war against terrorism. With the advancement in technology, new and more sophisticated aircraft are being developed such as the MQ-9 Reaper. In another segment, see how the Air Force is

  • Airmen land at Omaha zoo for Air Force Week

    Airmen and an F-16 Fighting Falcon descended on Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo to increase understanding of the Air Force throughout the community Aug. 12 in Omaha. The event was part of Air Force Week in the Heartland, a week-long schedule of events in the Omaha area aimed at showcasing the Air Force,

  • General Schwartz to Airmen: Be proud

    On his first day after being sworn in as the Air Force chief of staff, Gen. Norton Schwartz wasted no time in getting his message out to Airmen. "The key thing we need to do is achieve stability," General Schwartz said. "At the same time, we need to focus on those things that are most important,

  • General Schwartz in as 19th chief of staff

    The Air Force's 19th chief of staff spoke of mending fences and earning trust in his speech after taking charge of the service during a ceremony here Aug. 12. "Without trust, we are nothing," Gen. Norton A. Schwartz said to the crowd of about 600 people on the base's ceremonial lawn. "Trust must be

  • Airman advocates safer skies for civilian, military pilots

    To make the skies safer for general aviation and U.S. military pilots, Air Force officials sent a safety expert here to the world's largest airshow, the Experimental Aircraft Association's Oshkosh Air Venture airshow, to educate pilots on midair collision avoidance and on the need for flight safety

  • Coalition exchange tours enhance vital partnership

    Coalition air forces have proved instrumental in the continued success of airlift missions for Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. This was exemplified in July as the 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group conducted C-130 Hercules aircraft exchange tours with the Japanese Air Self Defense Force's

  • Air Force secretary meets veterans, addresses issues

    The acting secretary of the Air Force talked to Airmen, military veterans and Nebraska civic leaders during Air Force Week in the Heartland Aug. 11 in Omaha and at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Secretary Michael B. Donley had breakfast with Airmen assigned to Offutt AFB, visited the Veterans

  • Sniper ATP-equipped B-1B has combat first

    A Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod-equipped B-1B Lancer had its first weapon employment in combat here Aug. 4 successfully targeting enemy forces on the ground and dropping one guided bomb unit-38 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Sniper ATP, a long-range precision targeting system,

  • Raptor crews practice drive-through refueling

    Now that the F-22 Raptor arrival ceremonies are over and the anticipation of the arrival has subsided, Airmen here are on an aggressive training schedule to prepare them for combat operations. As part of that training, members of the 49th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 49th Logistics Readiness

  • Pilots provide emergency close air support

    For F-15E Strike Eagle and A-10 Thunderbolt pilots deployed here, joint terminal attack controllers, or JTACs,  play a vital role in the close air support mission. However, there's not always a JTAC on the ground when close air support, or CAS,  is needed. In these rare situations, pilots step

  • Aug. 10 airpower summary: B-1Bs bomb enemy compound

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 10, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force Reaper MQ-9 dropped a guided bomb unit-12 onto

  • Runners get fit to fight during Air Force Week in the Heartland

    Approximately 250 runners spiraled through Offutt Air Force Base and the surrounding community in the first Bellevue/Offutt Runway Run as part of Air Force Week in the Heartland Aug. 10 here. Military members and civilian running enthusiasts did their part to be fit to fight as they ran through the

  • Aug. 9 airpower summary: A-10s drop bomb, fire cannon at enemy targets

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 9, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs fired cannon rounds and dropped

  • PMEL Airmen deliver precision to warfighters

    The door opens into a dimly-lit labyrinth of technology. The bright light from outside sears through, revealing the truth behind the Air Force's precision of wartime capabilities. Though they work from the shadows of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing mission, the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance

  • Weather Agency provides edge to warfighters

    Today's warfighters are constantly looking for any combat advantage that they can gain on their enemies. One factor that can be the difference between a failed mission and a successful one is the weather. Bad weather can disable a Global Positioning System unit or cause low visibility for an

  • Sergeant improves process, saves time

    An Airman with the 437th Maintenance Squadron wheel and tire shop has helped save man-hours with a better way of cleaning C-17 Globemaster III nose-wheel bolts that need to be inspected. Tech. Sgt. Eddie Melendez, an aircraft maintenance craftsman in the 437 MXS wheel and tire shop aircraft

  • Aug. 7 airpower summary: F-15Es remain vigilant

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 7, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles dropped guided bomb

  • Air Force officials release report on Columbus T-38 accident

    Air Force officials here recently completed its investigation of the April 23 T-38C Talon accident at Columbus Air Force Base, Miss., which resulted in the deaths of two pilots and destroyed the airplane. Maj. Blair Faulkner, a 43rd Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, and 2nd Lt. Matthew

  • Air Force officials release report on Sheppard T-38 accident

    Air Force officials here completed their investigation of the May 1 T-38C Talon accident at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, which resulted in the deaths of two pilots and destroyed the airplane. Maj. Brad T. Funk, a 90th Flying Training Squadron instructor pilot, and 2nd Lt. Alec F. Littler, a

  • Base members improve processes to increase efficiency

    Members of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing here have refined and streamlined processes in order to increase productivity and the level of support provided to the warfighter in theater.Supporting an average of 70 missions per day couldn't be accomplished without the combined logistical support of

  • French airmen train at Luke

    Approximately 20 French air force aircrews, 60 maintainers and support personnel and four Rafale aircraft visited the base here to participate in an exercise July 28 to Aug. 8. The major coalition exercise here provided a unique opportunity for the French Rafale pilots and Luke's F-16 Fighting

  • Aug. 6 airpower summary: Reaper bombs insurgents

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 6, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a French 2000 Mirage dropped a guided bomb unit-12 onto

  • Joint Base Balad Airmen's initiatives shorten supply lines

    Members of the 332nd Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron's Material Management Flight here are changing the way logisticians support warfighters. Airmen established prepositioned spare parts packages for deploying aircraft and researched prepositioning small-arms weapons for deploying

  • Pentagon issues draft request for proposals for new tanker contract

    The Defense Department has issued a draft request for proposals to the competitors in the Air Force's $35 billion program to acquire new aerial refueling tanker aircraft. The request went to Northrop-Grumman and Boeing, and addresses concerns the Government Accountability Office raised about the

  • JSTARS meets AWACS

    The 16th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., has deployed to Kadena Air Base for 30 days to train with the 961st Airborne Air Control Squadron and participate in an operational readiness exercise on the Korean Peninsula. The unit is flying its E-8C

  • Aug. 5 airpower summary: C-130s deliver troop supplies

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 5, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle dropped guided bomb unit-38s

  • Aug. 4 airpower summary: B-1Bs strike enemy militants

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations August 4, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, a French 2000 Mirage dropped a guided bomb unit-12 onto

  • Pope command posts combine to increase efficiency

    Members of the 440th Airlift Wing Command Post here recently merged with the 43rd Airlift Wing Command Post as part of the Air Force's continuing initiative to operate more efficiently. Since April 1, both Reserve and active-duty controllers have been operating from the same schedule and sharing the

  • Aug. 3 airpower summary: A-10s provide close-air support

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan during operations August 3, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle dropped guided bomb unit-38s

  • Aug. 2 airpower summary: Strike Eagles soar

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations August 2, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an F-15E Strike Eagle dropped a GBU-38 onto an enemy

  • Aug. 1 airpower summary: Falcon takes out weapons cache

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations Aug. 1, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Royal Air Force GR-9 Harriers fired rockets and dropped

  • Elmendorf community mourns fallen commander

    Airmen and members of the local community paid tribute to the 3rd Wing commander during a memorial service July 31 at Hangar 1 here.Brig. Gen. Thomas L. Tinsley passed away July 27 at his on-base residence. "General Tinsley was a true leader and Airmen warrior and his untimely death is a loss to the

  • Nellis pilot killed in F-15D crash identified

    The pilot who died in an aircraft accident July 30 was Lt. Col. Thomas Bouley. The name was released in a July 31 press conference by Col. Russell Handy, 57th Wing commander. Colonel Bouley was the 65th Aggressor Squadron commander. Colonel Bouley was killed when the two-seater F-15D Eagle he was

  • July 31 airpower summary: Tankers bring fuel to the fight

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 31, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, an Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fired cannon rounds at

  • Predator crashes north of Joint Base Balad

    An MQ-1 Predator crashed north of Joint Base Balad at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time Aug 1. The aircraft is a medium-altitude, long-endurance, remotely piloted vehicle used primarily to conduct armed reconnaissance. A board will convene to investigate the crash. Comment on this story (comments

  • July 30 Airpower Summary: KC-10s 'extend' air ops

    Coalition airpower integrated with coalition ground forces in Iraq and International Security Assistance Force troops in Afghanistan during operations July 30, according to Combined Air and Space Operations Center officials here. In Afghanistan, Royal Air Force GR-7 Harriers fired rockets and